The Tigers pulled close through prosperity. They pulled even closer through adversity. At each step up the mountain, they stopped, looked proudly over the land they covered, took a deep breath and headed back up the hill.

Swinney said, this year, this team recognized that the process was just as important as the product.

“This has been a very joyful season is the best way I can say it,” Swinney said. “A lot of times, it’s felt like this team kind of wanted to hit pause, and I do think that they've enjoyed the journey. I do think this senior group has savored every moment along the way. They haven't looked ahead.”

And now, there is nothing ahead of them. Not another step. Not another team.

Clemson can stand proudly at the same elevation with Alabama. The Crimson Tide entered Levi’s Stadium with a longer lineage, a bigger brand and a larger share of the national acclaim.

Alabama's Isaiah Buggs reacts on the bench during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)(Photo: Chris Carlson, AP)

Yet, Monday night, Clemson was assured and convicted in its scheme. Alabama resorted to desperate gimmicks and fakes.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered the game as the lauded composer. But Lawrence was the brilliant virtuoso. Tagovailoa was flustered under Clemson’s immense pressure. Lawrence stood tall in the pocket, took bone-rattling hits and delivered dimes off his back foot.

Tagovailoa completed three of his first six passes on third down. He gained 48 yards. Lawrence completed eight of 12 third-down passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Alabama averaged 47.7 points per game through its previous 14 contests. Clemson limited the Tide to merely three points after the first quarter.

Clemson was the aggressor. Clemson was the instigator. Clemson was the better team.

And Clemson is once again the national champion.

"It's just an amazing moment," Swinney said. "Having done this before, you enjoy this moment. We're certainly going to enjoy it, but at the end of the day, it's really more of an appreciation of the journey here, what we went through to get here, the grind, the struggles."

The Tigers can look proudly over the land they covered, take a deep breath, and if Swinney has his way, they'll head back down the mountain and prepare for another climb.

"Can't wait to get back started Friday," Swinney said, "and see if we can figure out a way to go do it again."